Monthly Archives: October 2016

AAA Screening

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 31st October 2016

Tweet About 4% of men and 1% of women over the age of 65 have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). When this aneurysm ruptures the mortality rate is about 80%. Thus it is not surprising that screening for this condition in patients (mostly men) with abdominal ultrasound has become prevalent over the last decade or…

The Metropolitan Opera House as a Graveyard

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th October 2016

Tweet You’ve likely heard of yesterday’s evacuation of the Metropolitan Opera House because some terminally goofy member of the audience decided to empty his “mentor’s” ashes into the orchestra pit during the second intermission of the matinee performance of Rossini’s William Tell. The rest of the show was cancelled as was the evening performance of…

Recording of the Week: Richard Tucker – America’s Best Tenor

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 27th October 2016

Tweet Amazon is currently selling this 10 CD set for $16.98. Many of the selections are from Met broadcasts. The rest were made in the studio. There is some duplication with the multi-CD sets release three years ago in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Tucker’s birth. The 1st Act duet from Lucia Di Lammermoor…

Don Giovanni in HD 2016

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd October 2016

Tweet This telecast could serve as the imprimatur of what’s wrong with opera in the 21st century. This is said not to criticize the Mozart/Da Ponte masterpiece which, of course is one of opera’s greatest works. Rather, it’s a swipe at the management of today’s opera houses in general and the Met’s in particular. These…

Recording of the Week: Rosmonda D’Inghilterra

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 20th October 2016

Tweet Donizetti’s all but forgotten opera was written in 1834 to a libretto by Felice Romani. It’s based on the legend of Rosamund Clifford (The Fair Rosamund) Henry II’s mistress who died around 1176 under uncertain circumstances. It was first performed in Florence and again in Naples in 1845. Then it vanished. It was rediscovered…

More On Screening Mammography

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 15th October 2016

Tweet Though screening mammography starting at age 40 to 50 has been the standard of care for more than a third of a century, we are still sorting out the correct way to use it. The technique is another example of the ready-fire-aim approach that characterizes the introduction of new approaches to diagnosis and treatment…

The 10 Best Baritones of the 20th Century

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 9th October 2016

Tweet My piece on the 10 best tenors of the 20th century proved popular, so here’s a go at the 10 best baritones of the same epoch. Again, I emphasize that what follows is merely a personal opinion. I make no claim to omniscience. Readers are encouraged to make their own list. Actually, there are…

Recording of the Week – Gigli Compelation

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 2nd October 2016

Tweet Amazon has a 10 CD collection of recordings by one of the greatest tenors of the 20th Century – Beniamino Gigli (1890-1956). They are currently selling it for $36. I got it for $14, so you should wait until it goes on sale again before buying it. The tenor had one of the most beautiful…

About Neil Kurtzman

Neil A Kurtzman MD is the Grover E Murray Professor Emeritus and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. He has combined careers in clinical medicine, education, basic research, and administration for more than 30 years.